Means for making plush-like products such as carpets and the like



Dec. 19, 1961 Flled Dec 14, 1956 1 Mscwn/v/sm T 1 INVENTOR PuD/ Na /cw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,013,511 MEANS FOR MAKING PLUSH LIKE PRODUCTS SUCH AS CARPETS AND THE LIKE Rudi Nehich, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany, assignor to Institut fiir Textilrnaschinen, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany Filed Dec. 14, 1956, Ser. No. 628,406 4 Claims. (Cl. 11279) The invention relates to a method and means for making plush-like products such as carpets and the like, and more particularly to a method and means whereby pile threads are drawn into ground cloth by the needles of a multi-needlc machine.

The invention aims to provide a method whereby the production of the mentioned goods can be greatly accelerated as compared with conventional methods and the cost of production can be correspondingly reduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method whereby two lengths of ground cloth, spaced from each other, are fed simultaneously to the location where the pile threads are drawn in, and are both pierced by the same needles, whereupon the heads of the pile thread loops are bound at the back of the ground cloth where the heads are formed, so that simultaneously two lengths of plush are produced which, then, are separated by cutting the pile threads between the two lengths of ground cloth.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for feeding two lengths of ground cloth, spaced from each other, to the part of a multi-needle machine where the pile threads are drawn in by needles piercing both ground cloths, in combination with means for binding the heads of the pile thread loops on the back of the cloth where the heads are formed and means for cutting the pile threads between the two lengths of cloth.

Further objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment thereof by way of example.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a part of a multi-needle machine where the pile threads are drawn in according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration on a smaller scale of the means for producing plush carpets or the like by the new method.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1, two throat plates 12 and 13 are spaced from each other and provided with holes 12' and 13 along an edge thereof for the passage of the needles 2 of a multi-needle machine, only one needle 2 being visible in FIG. 1. Presser foot-like parts 112, 113 are advantageously co-ordinated with the plates 12 and 13 and are formed with slots 112' and 113' at their free edges, which slots overlie the holes 12' and 13. The needles 2 may be arranged on a common bar 3. Two lengths of ground cloth 4 and 5 are placed and guided on the plates 12 and 13, respectively, and are fed to the needles 2 which are of the continuous tufting type and which are threaded with the pile threads 1 and which pierce both cloths at each stroke.

Feeding of the ground cloths 4 and 5 may, for example, be accomplished as shown in the Smith Patent 2,050,740 by means of delivery thereof from a roll actuated by roller means. On the other hand, collector drums for the finished product, such as shown at and 11, may be utilized to draw ground cloths 4 and 5 through the machine at a predetermined speed. The plates 12 and 13, as well as the presser parts 112 and 113 and the other parts of the machine, are supported with respect to one another and for their various operating movements via conventional frame means F shown schematically in FIG. 1.

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The needle bars 3 are mounted on the frame via a reciprocating mechanism, shown schematically in FIG. 1, to advance and retract the needles 2 from the top of their up stroke position (not shown) above the ground cloths to their down stroke position shown in FIG. 1, and then return. Similarly, the cutter element 9, to be discussed, may be mounted on the frame via a linear movement mechanism, shown schematically in FIG. 1, for movement between the ground cloths as the cloths advance from the stitching portion of the machine.

The plates 12 and 13 and presser parts 112 and 113 overlie one another in such a manner that the ground cloths 4 and 5 may pass therebetween. Slots 112 and 113' are aligned with the holes 12 and 13' and open in the direction of ground cloth feed to permit continuous stitching while keeping the ground cloths 4 and 5 in the proper spaced relationship relative to one another during stitching operation.

As the needle 2 pierces both cloths at each stroke, the heads 6 of the pile thread loops will freely project from the lower side of the lower ground cloth 13. These heads 6 will be bound in with the lower ground cloth. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, catchers 8, each guiding a thread 7, are provided underneath the length of ground cloth 5. These catchers are of the type of the so-called double-chain-stitch-catchers. By means of the lower threads 7, the heads 6 of the loops of the pile threads 1 are so bound that the pile threads with the lower threads 7 form each a conventional double chain stitch seam. Alternatively, the lower threads 7 may, of course, be inserted with the aid of a shuttle (not shown). Whereas in the former case, the lower threads 7 will form each a little linking rod, the same will float at the back of the cloth in the second case.

The method and means just described can be simplified by an omission of the lower threads 7. In that event, the heads 6 of the loops of the pile threads 1 will be bound in by the pile threads proper through the agency of threadless catchers which constitute single chain stitch catchers. However, the use of separate lower threads has the advantage that these threads may be selected weaker than the pile threads.

In the manner just described, two lengths of plush goods are simultaneously produced. These lengths will be separated from each other by cutting the pile thread loops through between both the lengths of ground cloth 4 and 5.

The separation can take place immediately in the rear of the location where the pile threads are drawn in, that means, directly on the same machine. A conventional cutting device 9 can be used for this purpose. In this event it is possible to wind the two lengths of plush goods, immediately separated from each other, on two beams or drums, as shown at 10 and 11 in FIG. 2. Rollers 14 and 15 are provided near the location of the cutting device in order to guide the lengths of the goods properly to the beams or drums 10 and 11.

Carpets and the like of the mentioned kind are usually dressed, glued or the like in order to secure the pile thread loops. If it is intended to do this prior to the separation of the two lengths of plush cloth, the cutting device 9 is to be provided at another suitable location than at the multi-needle machine where, then, the separation takes place after the plush cloths have been produced as hereinbefore described.

It is also possible to guide two additional lengths of a suitable material so as to run along between the lengths of the ground cloth 4 and 5. These additional lengths may be provided for the purpose of holding the two lengths of ground cloth spaced from each other until they are separated by the cutting device. In that event,

the separation can take place between the two additional lengths of material.

The method and means hereinbefore described are useful to approximately double the speed of production as compared with the conventional method producing only one length of plush cloth at a time on a multi-needle machine, the working speed of which cannot be increased beyond a certain limit.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and alterations of the method and means hereinbefore described and illustrated can be made without departure from the essence and spirit of the invention which for this reason shall not be limited but by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for making plush fabrics comprising a pair of support surfaces facing the same direction and arranged in spaced overlying relation with respect to each other for supporting a pair of ground cloths in overlying relation with respect to each other, continuous stitching means for stitching the separately supported ground cloths to each other with continuous pile threads to form a continuous pile seam which joins the ground cloths so that portions of the pile threads extend between the separated ground cloths and portions of the continuously stitched pile threads contact the outer surfaces of the ground cloths, chain stitching means for holding the pile threads to the ground cloths, said continuous stitching means including a pile-thread-bearing continuous tufting needle reciprocable with respect to said surfaces for piercing both ground cloths in one stroke, and means for severing the portion of the pile threads between said ground cloths to form a pair of plush fabrics.

2. A machine for making plush fabrics comprising a pair of rigid support surfaces facing the same direction and arranged in spaced overlying relation with respect to each other for separately supporting portions of a pair of ground cloths longitudinally advancing in overlying spaced relation with respect to each other, continuous stitching means for stitching the separately supported portions of the ground cloths to each other with continuous pile threads to form a continuous seam which joins the ground cloths so that portions of the continuous stitched pile threads lie against the outer surfaces of the ground cloths, said continuous stitching means including a pile-thread-bearing needle reciprocable with respect to said surfaces for piercing both ground cloths in one stroke and hooking means coacting with said continuous stitching means for securing the continuous pile threads to the ground cloths, whereby the pile threads between said ground cloths may be severed to form a pair of plush fabrics.

3. A machine for making a pair of plush fabrics of the type having ground cloth with the free ends of pile thread extending a predetermined length above the front surface thereof and with the secured ends of the pile thread restrained at the back surface thereof, comprising a pair of plates having support surfaces facing in the same direction and overlying one another, said plates being spaced from one another for providing a distance therebetween of substantially twice the predetermined length of the pile thread above the ground cloth, said plates being arranged for supporting a pair of ground cloths on said support surfaces for movement therealong and endwardly past free edges thereof with the front surfaces of the ground cloths in opposed relation, each said plate having an aperture in the free edge thereof and aligned with the aperture in the other plate, at least one continuous tufting needle aligned with the apertures in said plates and mounted with respect thereto for ad vancing and retracting therethrough from a position overlying the back surface of one of the ground cloths, said needle being of a length to draw continuous pile thread through both ground cloths and to form a pile thread loop therein below the back surface of the other ground cloth as said needle retracts from the end of its down stroke position, means adjacent the back surface of the other ground cloth arranged for securing the loop as said needle is retracted, and cutting means spaced from the free ends of said plates and mounted for disposition between the ground cloths in the path of travel of the stitched pile thread extending therebetween, whereby the pile thread between the cloths is severed and two finished plush fabrics are produced.

4. A machine for making a pair of plush fabrics according to claim 3, wherein presser elements overlie said plates and are spaced therefrom sufficiently for permitting passage of the ground cloths between said plates and presser elements and for restraining the ground cloths against movement toward and away from one another during the stitching thereof.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10,597 Johnson Mar. 7, 1854 527,971 Grubb Oct. 23, 1894 1,651,535 McDermott Dec. 6, 1927 1,831,485 Dykeman Nov. 10, 1931 1,863,049 Hermann June 14, 1932 2,050,740 Smith Aug. 11, 1936 2,052,071 Banister Aug. 25, 1936 2,132,530 Greiser Oct. 11, 1938 2,137,757 Gould et al Nov. 22, 1938 2,226,631 Miller Dec. 31, 1940 2,339,431 Slayter Jan. 18, 1944 2,360,398 Case Oct. 17, 1944 2,480,984 Van Issum Sept. 6, 1949 2,521,831 Cone et al. Sept. 12, 1950 2,866,255 Keen Dec. 30, 1958 

